July 2012

In patients with patellofemoral pain, hip weakness may be result, not cause

In the moment: Sports medicine

A pain-inducing protocol significantly reduces hip extension strength in patients with patello­fem­oral pain (PFP), suggesting that hip weakness associated with the condition may be a result and not a cause, according to research from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee presented in June at the NATA meeting.

Nineteen runners with PFP of at least four weeks duration completed a pain-inducing protocol involving single-leg squats on the affected limb and repeated for 10 sets of 20 repetitions or until a previously determined pain threshold was reached. Participants completed a median of three sets.

“These findings seem to indicate that pain causes weakness and is not just a symptom,” said David Bazett-Jones, PhD, a lecturer in the Physical Therapy Program at the university, who presented the findings at the NATA meeting.

Rehabilitation to restore hip weakness in patients with PFP is still important, Bazett-Jones noted.